Lawmakers to Investigate San Diego Airport Authority

Audio

Aired 4/19/09

State Senator Christine Kehoe says there’s room to improve San Diego’s regional airport authority. Kehoe is launching a series of public hearings this week to consider whether to restructure the authority or possibly dissolve it altogether. KPBS Radio’s Andrew Phelps reports.

Kehoe says the investigation was born out of frustration with the airport authority. She’s inviting citizens and local lawmakers to air their concerns.

Kehoe:
Is the airport authority accountable to the public? Are its operations and decision-making transparent to the average San Diegan? And is expending its funds wisely?

Kehoe has trouble answering yes to any of those questions. Last week the airport authority sent informational mailers to hundreds of thousands of voters critics say the mailers were campaign brochures in disguise. Next month voters will be asked to endorse the authority’s choice of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar as the new airport site. Spokeswoman Diana Lucero says the authority is cooperating with Kehoe’s investigation and is open to suggestions. For KPBS, I’m Andrew Phelps.